The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP)

Early in the Second World War it became apparent that air power was to play an important part in the hostilities. With the invasion of Poland by the Germans came the declaration of war of Britain, soon followed by that of Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The fall of France meant that the British Commonwealth stood alone against the Axis. Canada was anxious to do her part and Canadian Defence officials conferred with their British counterparts to decide on the Canadian contribution. Besides sending troops, aircrew, and sailors to Britain to participate directly in the fight, it was decided that Canada would assume a secondary training role and train all the Commonwealth aircrew. This scheme was called the British Empire Air Training Plan and undertook to train aircrew on a scale never before contemplated. The BETP was renamed the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) at the request of Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The plan was soon out of the political arena and training establishments were springing up all over the country. It was in this atmosphere that the Air Force came to Chatham.

On May 22, 1940, Mayor Flieger of Chatham was advised by the Honorable W.S. Anderson, Minister of Public Works for the province of New Brunswick, that Chatham had been selected as a base under the BCATP. The town newspaper, The Commercial World, had to request permission from government censors to publish what it called “the glad tidings.” Chatham had been hit severely by the depression years of the 1930s and the sight of surveyors and evaluation teams had raised hopes that Chatham would be selected as a base that would provide a means of livelihood for some of the town’s inhabitants. A delay in the start of construction brought a feeling of disappointment to the town and when the construction of the airfield was announced, the paper replied with this headline which illustrated the feelings of the townspeople;

“AIRPORT CONSTRUCTION AT CHATHAM AGAIN MOOTED—Project of vital concern to this town is practically assured.”

Construction began in the summer of 1940 with the clearing of the main runway. This was followed with the erection of the buildings and hangars and by the spring of 1941 the base was nearly ready for the two units which were to occupy it, #21 Elementary Flying Training School and #10 Air Observers School. In April a security guard officer and a detachment of 15 men and one non-commissioned officer reported to the station and supervised the final preparations. On July 3rd the station (buildings, equipment,  services, etc.) was opened for operation and the supervisory staff of the schools arrived.  

The majority of the schools in the BCATP were operated by civilians, as instructors, mechanics and administrators freed RCAF personnel for the war theatres. The supervisory staff was usually made up of WWI veterans who were too old to employ in combat roles but could be used as RCAF supervisors.  

 *Excerpt from Miramichi Military History compiled by C. Bird, R. Noel, G. Swain and M. Veilleux in 1982. 

In March 1941, the Moncton Flying Club received word that a large School

in Chatham was to be opened, known as No. 21 E.F.T.S., R.C.A.F., and if the Club could supply the necessary staff and management as well as a substantial sum of money, more as evidence of good faith than actual

capital, they would be given an opportunity to operate the School. (This was deemed a signal honor by the Club as it was a slight departure from the usual policy of the Department of National Defence for Air due to the fact that Schools were to be operated by member clubs of the Canadian Flying Clubs Association and the Moncton Flying Club was not then a member of this organization.)

Work was immediately started on the organization of a new Company to take over the new project and after numerous conferences, much burning of the midnight oil and many arguments by Messrs. Humphrey, Mills, Creaghan, Baxter and Bourgeois the new Company was born by the name of the Miramichi Flying Training School Limited. The name which is to say the least, uncommon, was in honor of Mr. Creaghan whose home  was located on the banks of the beautiful Miramichi River in Northern New Brunswick and where the Flying School was to be located.

Miramichi Flying Training School Ltd. had been given a Dominion charter of incorporation on May 15, 1941. It had operated at the Moncton airport until Moncton was turned into an Advanced Service Flying School. The RCAF supervisory staff was headed by Flight Lieutenant (F/L) PJ Grant, the Chief Supervisory officer, who had a staff of two officers and five men. The operating company was responsible for everything, including the messing and quarters of the students, and had charge of the 31 Fleet Finch II aircraft on loan from the government. The first intake of the school consisted of 35 students. The flight candidates took ground school courses in navigation, aircraft recognition, parachutes, signals, armament and aero engines; as well as Link trainer instruction and actual flying in the Finches. 

*This section is an excerpt from Miramichi Military History compiled by C. Bird, R. Noel, G. Swain and M. Veilleux in 1982.

By June 2, 1941, a large portion of the staff had been installed at No. 21 in Chatham and the organization of the School had been very near complete. The School opened officially on July 2, 1941, with our first intake of pupils and training commenced with great enthusiasm. In the meantime the Flying Club had ceased operations for the duration and many of the pilots that had been 

trained were posted to Chatham.

Mr. A.M. Snowden and Mr. Weeks had been made C.F.I. and Assistant C.F.I. Mr. C.J. Fitch was appointed C.G.I. and the rest of the Flying Club Staff used as a nucleus for the different departments as the expansion was from 10 employees at the Club to over a hundred civilian employees at the school. Mr. Humphrey and Mr. Mills obtained leave of absence from their respective

businesses and took positions with the Miramichi Flying Training School Limited, Mr. Humphrey as Manager and Mr. Mills as Secretary Treasurer. No. 21 E.F.T.S. operated very successfully for a period of fourteen months and had settled down to a routine, believing that the School would be in Chatham for the duration of the War. Notice was then received that it was intended that the R.A.F. Schools in Western Canada were to be civilianized, that No. 21 E.F.T.S. was to be disbanded and our organization moved to Neepawa, Manitoba. 

As the war in Europe drew to a close the BCATP was no longer necessary. With a reserve of trained aircrew from the European theatre to use against Japan if needed, it became apparent that the plan had served its useful life. Orders were issued from Ottawa for the disbandment of the school. On March 28, 1945 the last graduation was held and the next day all flying ceased. The graduates proceeded no further in their training and were sent directly to St. Hubert, Quebec for discharge. The school was officially disbanded on April 30, 1945 and a board of officers was convened to take over #10 AOS from the Northumberland AOS Ltd. From the inception of the school in 1941 to its closing, the school graduated 89 courses, putting the number of personnel trained at 1500.

The closing of the school put the station’s maintenance in the hands of #602 Reserve Equipment Maintenance Satellite, a sub-unit of #6 Reserve Equipment Maintenance Unit in Mont Joli, Quebec. When it became apparent that Chatham would not have a place in immediate post-war defence policy, #602 REMS was officially inactivated on December 31, 1945, and the station was placed in the hands of Crown Assets for disposal.

 *Excerpt from Miramichi Military History compiled by C. Bird, R. Noel, G. Swain and M. Veilleux in 1982.